Month seven. Hadn't touched my keyboard in two weeks. Kept walking past it feeling guilty. The excitement from early months was gone. Playing felt like a chore. I was seriously considering quitting.
This happens to everyone. The honeymoon phase ends. Progress slows. Real life gets busy. The thing that once excited you becomes another obligation.
Here's what helped me push through.
Motivation is unreliable. Stop waiting for it. Some days you won't feel like practicing. Practice anyway. The 10-minute rule saved me – just show up, do 10 minutes, no expectations. Often becomes more. Sometimes stays at 10. Both are fine.
Play songs you actually love. If your practice is all exercises and songs you don't care about, of course you're not motivated. Always have at least one piece in rotation that excites you. Even if it's above your level – something to work toward.
Record yourself periodically. You can't hear your own progress while living it. But listen to a recording from three months ago vs today – the difference is real. Progress is happening even when it doesn't feel like it.
Find community. Reddit r/piano. Facebook groups. Local meetups. Other people learning the same thing reminds you you're not alone in the struggle. Seeing others' progress is motivating, not discouraging.
Set small goals. Not "learn to play piano" – too vague. "Learn the first page of this song by Sunday." Small, specific, achievable. Check them off. The satisfaction compounds.
Remember why you started. I wanted to be able to sit at a piano at a party and play something. Not perfectly – just play. That vision still motivates me. What was yours?
Accept that plateaus are normal. Progress isn't linear. You'll have weeks where nothing improves. This doesn't mean you're failing – it means your brain is consolidating. Keep showing up.
Take breaks intentionally. If you're burnt out, take a week off. Actually off – no guilt. Come back refreshed. This is different from quitting, which is giving up permanently.
Lower the bar. Can't do 30 minutes? Do 10. Can't do 10? Sit at the keyboard and play one scale. Something is always better than nothing. Maintain the habit even at minimal intensity.
Piano is a lifelong skill. A bad week or month doesn't matter in a 30-year journey. Take the long view.